The Mamata Banerjee government has procured only 18.88 lakh tons of paddy since the harvesting of kharif crop was completed two months ago.

The progress, which is considered to be poor, has left the Bengal government in a tight spot as the state might face trouble to run the cheap rice grain scheme if the procurement process does not get momentum immediately.

“The secretary of the food and supplies department held a video conference with officials of district administrations today (Tuesday) and asked them to expedite the procurement process immediately. The state is in a spot as it had expected more paddy to be procured immediately after the harvesting of kharif crop,” said a senior government official.

The procurement of about 19 lakh tons of paddy by January 10 is considered to be low as the state has set a target of collecting 55 lakh tons from farmers by October 2023.

“But this is the peak period when the maximum quantum of paddy should be procured. The state produces more than 110 lakh tons of paddy in kharif season out of its total production of 160 lakh tons. So, if the maximum quantum of paddy could not be procured immediately after the harvesting of kharif season, it remains doubtful whether the target could be achieved,” said a senior bureaucrat.

The procurement of maximum paddy soon after the harvesting of the kharif produce is also required to save the interest of small and marginal farmers, who form 80 per cent of 70 lakh farmers in the state, as they cannot hold back their stock for a long period.

“The maximum of the kharif crop was harvested by November 15. Two months have passed since then and if we cannot still procure even 20 lakh tons of paddy, I must say the progress is poor,” said a bureaucrat.

If enough paddy is not procured immediately, it will be tough to run the cheap grain scheme that requires about 3 lakh tons of rice every month. And with the existing procurement, the scheme could be run for another three months.

The ruling party is set to face questions in the forthcoming rural polls if small and marginal farmers don’t get the maximum support price for their produce.

A section of the officials said the lack of participation by rice mills in the procurement process this year made the situation critical.

“Apart from the permanent procurement centres, the rice mills play an important role as many of them procure paddy on behalf of the government. But this year, they are not participating actively in the procurement for some unknown reasons. In such a situation, 300-odd permanent procurement centres cannot expedite the paddy collection,” said a source.

Sources said the rice mills had become shaky after the CBI had raided several rice mills owned allegedly by Anubrata Mondal, the Trinamul heavyweight who is now in jail custody.

Sources in the food and supplies department said the districts had been asked to involve self-help groups and farmers’ cooperatives to expedite the procurement process. The state has set a target of procuring at least 10 lakh tons of paddy in the next 15 days.